Frequency modulation radar systems with directional couplers or the like



NOV.V `18, 12952 R, A BRADEN 2,618,744

FREQUENCY MODULATION RADAR SYSTEMS WITH DIRECTIONAL COUPLERS OR THE LIKE Filved April 50, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY Nov. 18, 1952 R. A. BRADEN 2,618,744

FREQUENCY MODULATION RADAR SYSTEMS WITH DIRECTIONAL COUPLERS OR THE LIKE v Filed April .'50, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Nov. 18, 1952 R, A, BRADEN 2,618,744'

AFREQUENCY` MODULATION RADAR SYSTEMS WITH DIRECTIONAL COUPLERS OR THE LIKE l Flled April 50, 1949 3 Sheets-Shet 3 BY I ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 18, 1952 FREQUENCY MODULATION RADAR SYS- TEMS W'ITH DIRECTIONALCOUPLERS 0R .THE LIKE Rene A. Braden, Hopewell, N. J., assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Dela- Ware My invention relates generally to radar systems and more particularly to the elimination of cross coupling between the various component parts of such systems.

In frequency modulated (FM) radar systems, there are transmitted groups of radio waves that are frequency modulated at a periodic rate by a sine wave or by a linear wave current such as from a sawtooth or triangular wave generator. These modulated waves are received after reflection back from a target or reflecting surface and the received signal is applied to a mixer to which also is applied an FM signal direct from the transmitter. There appears in the output of the mixer a beat-frequency signal or, in the case of a superheterodyne circuit, an intermediate frequency (I. F.) signal carrying the beat-frequency signal. The frequency of the beat-frequency signal is a function of the target range or the distance between the system and the reflecting surface. A system of this type, without superheterodyning, is described in U. S. patent to Bentley, 2,011,392, issued August 13, 1935.

The present invention will be described with specic reference to a, system employing superheterodyne circuits, such as is described and claimed in application Serial No. 508,031, now Patent No. 2,424,796, issued July 29, 1947, filed on October 28, 1943 in the name of Wendell L. Carlson and entitled Superheterodyne Radio Altimeter or Locator, and in application Serial No. 718,915, now Patent No. 2,540,506, issued February 6, 1951, filed on December 28, 1946, in the name of Rene A. Braden and entitled Radar Systems of Superheterodyne FM Type.

It has been found, particularly when employing very high frequencies, that in systems of the type referred to herein, there is considerable difficulty in obtaining the desired results because of amplitude modulation effects that may result either from amplitude or frequency modulation of the transmitter oscillator. This difficulty is caused largely by cross-feed or cross-coupling of signals from kthe transmitter portion of the system to the receiver portion of the system. There are two cross-feed paths, one being a radiation leakage path from the transmitter antenna to the receiving antenna, which is present regardless of the use of sharply directive antennas, shielding, etc. The other cross-feed path is through the cables and electrical apparatus interconnecting the transmitter and receiver.

Unless special precautions are taken, the effect of the two cross-feed or cross-coupling signals is to introduce an amplitude modulation signal in the signal output of the system which may be of suflicient magnitude to mask out the desired output signal resulting from the signals reflected from a target. Such difficulty is encountered particularly where the transmitter oscillator is a magnetron because a magnetron is subject to both amplitude and frequency modulation caused by ripples in the anode voltage supply, by variations in intensity of the applied magnetic field, by the magnetic field set up by alternating currents in the cathode heater, by fluctuations in the cooling air blast, and by mechanical vibration of the magnetron. The cross-coupling currents are usually much stronger than the normal received signal currents and for this reason are very troublesome, if they are noise or ripple modulated, for example. As will be pointed out hereinafter, any spurious frequency modulation such as mentioned hereinbefore shows up eventually as the equivalent of an amplitude modulation and may be more troublesome than an actual amplitude modulation.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of and apparatus for the minimizing of the effects of cross-coupling currents in an FM radar system.

A further object of the invention is to provide a Wave guide system for coupling the various circuits of an FM radar system, with the minimum cross-coupling effects between the transmitter and the receiver.

Accordingly, the main feature of the invention is to apply a source of local oscillations to a control frequency mixer and to a receiver mixer to obtain two I. F. currents, the beat frequency of the two I. F. currents being a measure of the distance from the system to the reflecting surface, and at the same time isolate the transmitter from the receiver.

The invention will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with accompanying drawings in which:

aelenafi Figure 6 is a, sketch in cross section of one embodiment of a coaxial wave guide system applicable to the arrangement illustrated in Figure 4;

Figure '7 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the invention in a simplified wave guide coupling system;

Figure 8 is a sketch in perspective of a single unit multiple-Tee wave guide coupler applicable to the embodiment illustrated in Figure '7; and

Figure 9 is a sketch in perspective of two multiple-Tee wave guide couplers joined together.

Similar reference characters are applied to similar elements throughout this specication and accompanying drawings.

With reference to Figure 1, there is disclosed therein and generally shown as numeral I, a conventional hollow wave guide directional coupler which consists of the main line guide 2 to which is attached the branch line guide 3, shown as a hollow guide with its upper end blocked oir" as at 4 and its lower or output end bent in the form of an elbow. Two eld coupling holes are drilled through the walls of guides 2 and 3, the distance between the holes 2 and 3 being one quarter of the wave length of the radio wave being conducted by the guides. In branch guide 3 is shown an energy absorbing and non-reflecting wedge 6 and in main guide 2 is shown an energy absorbing and non-reflecting attenuator Ea. The wedge 6 and attenuator Ea are made of some radio energy absorbing material, as for example,'Bal elite,or rubber lled with finely divided conducting material.

Figure 1 illustrates one of a number of types of directional couplers, any of which types 'may be used in the circuits to be described.

In yFigure 2 is shown a directional'coaxial guide Ycoupler consisting of the main line nguide 2 with its inner conductor 'I and branch line guide 3 and its inner conductor Ia.l Holes 5 are drilled through guides 2 and 3a distance apart equal to one quarter of the wave length of the radio wave being conducted by the guides. At the closed end of ybranch 3 is inserted an absorbing plug 8.

It is known that lwhen a directional coupler such as is shown in Figures/1 and 2 is used to couple two circuits together only a part of the energy in the main guide is transferred to the branch guide. AThere are three transmission paths through the coupler, each having a different insertion loss. The first path is along the main guide, from end A to end B, or vice versa, and the insertion loss in this path is very small. The second path is from end B to the side branch, end C, or vice versa, and inl this path the insertion loss has an intermediate value. The third path is from end A to end C, or vice versa, and in this path the insertion loss is very large. The following values are typical -of the losses in directional couplers. In the direct path (A to B) the insertion loss is one decibel or less. In the second path (B to C) the insertion loss depends on the design, 10 to 15 decibels being about the minimum practicableA value, to 30 decibels the usual range. In the third path (A to C) the insertion loss is usually 20 to 40 decibels greater than the insertion loss in'the second path, the value thus being 30 to"70 decibels. In applying a directional coupler to the FM radar system, the problem is to place it in the circuit in such an oriented position with respect to the power flow that the desired energy transmissions take place in the two preferred' directions, while Vthe 4 unwanted cross-coupling can only occur through the high-insertion-loss direction.

In the present invention, the physical characteristics of directional couplers are applied to reduce the cross-feeding of energy from an FM modulated radar transmitter to the receiver, both the transmitter and the receiver by necessity of of operation being connected to a single local oscillator.

With reference to Figure 3, 9 represents a conventional line guide of high frequency energy, I0 is a local oscillator connected by guide 9 to control mixer II,'which is also connected to transmitter-oscillator or magnetron I2 to produce an I. F. current to be applied to I. F. amplifier I3. Local oscillator I0 is also connected to signal mixer I4, that is also connected to receiver antenna I5. The output of mixer I4 is applied to I. F. amplier I 6. The outputs of ampliiiers I3 and I6 are connected to a seco-nd detector or a balanced mixer, such as disclosed and claimed in the Braden application Serial No. 718,915, hereinbefor'e mentioned, the output of said de'- tector or mixer being a measure ofthe distance of the target from the transmitter antenna I1.

Between oscillator Ill and mixers VII and I4 is connected a directional coupler I (see Figures 1 and 2), Such that the main guide 2 connects oscillator III directly to mixer II and through coupling holes 5 to the branch guide 3 to receiver mixer Ill. It'will be apparent from `the description ofthe characteristics of coupler shown generally at I and described hereinbefore in connection with Figure 1, that the major portion of the energy from oscillator I0 willbe transmitted to control mixer II, a smaller portion to receiver mixer I4, and practically nocross-coupling current will flow frommagnetron I2 through control mixer II to receiver mixer I4. While less energy from oscillator 'I0 is` delivered to receiver mixer I4 than to control mixer` II, sufcient energy is delivered to receivermixer I4 to beat with the energy 'received by antenna I5. The excess energy Vflowingtoward II is'a'bsorbed in the adjustable'attenuator indicated at 6a -in Figure 1, which is placed between I and II.

The arrangements shown'in Figure 4 aresimilar to those in Figure 3, except that two directional couplers are used. vReceiver mixer I4 'is connected to local oscillator I'D through branch guide 3a and main guidel'2a; `control mixer II is connectedV to oscillator Ithrough main guide 2a and "4a of coupler Ia and through main guide 2b and 4b of coupler Ib. Magnetron AI2 is'connected to coupler Ib through branch "guide 3b of coupler Ib. It will be no'tedthat power'ilows from the local oscillator tothe -controlinixer through the low-insertion-loss paths of the two ldirectional couplers. 'Io prevent excessivepower input, and to adjust the power to an optimum value, the adjustable attenuator'Z'I 'is insertedv between the two directional couplers.

The directional coupler Ia is oriented in position'so that its intermediate'value of insertion loss is effective in the path between the local oscillator and the 'receiver'mixen and by'suitable design this circuit will lirn'it'the power Vflowing Vto the mixer to afsuitable value, which may be in the order of l or 2% of the total power* generated.

'Ihe directional coupler Ibis' similarly oriented with respect to power `flowY from the magnetron to the control mixr II, and the 'insertion loss in this direction likewise limits vvthepower flow from the magnetron to the controlinixer.

Additional control may be had in either circuit by inserting an adjustable attenuator in the lines 3a and 3b, if desired.

It will be seen that power flowing from the magnetron transmitter to the receiver mixer is forced to travel through the high-insertion-loss paths of the two directional couplers in series, thus limiting this power to a very small value. Furthermore, the adjustable attenuator 21 is also in this path giving additional attenuation of the cross-coupling power.

Referring to Figure 5, there is disclosed therein in detail a wave guide system, connections and associated parts embodying the arrangements set forth in Figure 4. Local oscillator I is connected by conventional pro-be I8 to main guide 2a of coupler la. This main guide 2a extends to and merges into main line 2b of coupler Ib and is connected to the control mixer I I which includes the conventional mixing crystal I9.

The output of mixing crystal I9 is connected to the control I. F. amplier I3. One end of branch 3a, of coupler Ia is connected to receiver antenna I5 and the other end is eld coupled to main guide 2a through holes 5. The mixing of the currents from oscillator ID and from the receiver antenna I5 is accomplished by the conventional mixing crystal 2D, the output of which is connected to the I. F. ampliiier I6. The tuning of branch guide 3a is accomplished by conventional tuning screws 2l. Tuning of main guide 2 is accomplished by plunger 22. Wedge 23 is inserted at the closed end of branch 3a to absorb without reflection the energy passing through holes 5 from magnetron I2.

Branch 3b of coupler Ib is connected by conventional probe 24 to a coaxial cable leading from magnetron I2. The other end of branch guide 3b is eld coupled to main guide 2b through holes 5. Wedge 25 is inserted in the closed end oi branch guide 3b to absorb without reliection the energy in coupler Ib that passes beyond holes 5. Tuning of mixer II is accomplished by conven# tional tuning screws 2 6.

Adjustable attenuator 21 adjusts for the amount of power from local oscillator which goes into mixer i9. Attenuators 21 and 21a, respectively, are inserted in the main line 2b, between mixer I I and coupler Ib and between the two drectional couplers Ib and Ia.

The direction coupler Ib is oriented in position so that, with respect to energy entering it at the probe 24, from the transmitter oscillator I2, the direction of intermediate insertion loss is towards the control mixer II. Most of this power goes into the control mixer and only a very small fraction of it goes towards the receiver mixer. In order to gain the greatest advantage from this condition it is desirable that the amount of power reflected from the control mixer be held to a minimum practicable amount. yThis condition is secured partly by adjustment of the tuning screws 2B, and partly by attenuation of the reflected energy by the attenuator 21a.

The directional coupler I a is oriented so that, with respect to the flow of power into the receiver mixer I4, the path of intermediate insertion loss is in the direction from the local oscillator. Suincient power flows from the latter to the former to accomplish conversion of the received signals to the intermediate frequency.

As explained in connection with Figure 4, power can now from the transmitter to thereceiver mixer only by going through both directional couplers in their paths of highest i'nser`' tion loss, and additionally through the attenuator 21. The amount of transmitter power which can leak into the receiver is therefore very small. The benefit derived from the use of this circuitcan be evaluated by calculating the insertion lossI from the control mixer to the receiver mixer. At the directional coupler Ib, the significant gure is the diirerence between the insertion losses of thetwo paths which include the branch guide. By reference to the description of Figure 1, it is seen that this may typically lie between the values 20 and 40 decibels. Attenuator 21a is small and has little effect in this calculation, but attenuator 21 may have a value between 15 and 20 decibels, in a typical system. At directional coupler Ia, the whole insertion loss is eiective, and from the description of Figure 1 a typical value for this is 30 to '10 decibels. Summing the three figures, the total effective attenuation between the transmitter and the receiver is found to lie between 65 and 130 decibels. These values are considerably higher than can be gotten without the use of the directional couplers, and thus the interfering noise currents in the receiver are reduced, and the range of the system is increased.

Referring to Figure 6, a directional coupler system is shown therein consisting of a coaxial cable guide section 28 with inner conductor 29, a portion of which is hollowed out to form the guide section 353 with inner conductor 31. Slots 32, spaced apart one quarter of the wave length of the radiated energy from magnetron I2, field couples together the two coaxial guides. In the closed end of guide 3i) is non-reflecting termination 33. The open end of guide 28 and conductor 29 are connected to mixer II. The open end of guide 30 and conductor 3I are connected to magnetron I 2.

A similar construction is shown in the lower half of Figure 6. Guide 28a and inner conductor 29a are connected to oscillator le and guide 30a and inner conductor 3Ia are connected to mixer I4, the two guides being eld coupled together by slots 32a. The two pairs of transmission guides are connected together by coupling section 35 that opens into window 36 in guide 28 and window 31 in guide 28a.

In operation: Most of the energy from oscillator ID passes through the main guide comprising guides 28a, 315 and 28 to mixer Il. The remainder of the energy passes through slots 32a in guide 30a and through guide 36a to mixer I4. Energy from magnetron I2 passes through guide 30, slots 32 in guide 30 to guide 28 and thence to mixer II. Mixer I4 is isolated from magnetron I2 by the relative position of slots 32 to guide 3S and the relative direction of flow of energy from magnetron I2, by attenuator 32 and by the relative position of slots 32a t0 guide 36 and the relative direction of now of energy from magnetron I2 as it enters guide 28a. 3d is a metal bushing which supports conductor 36. It also short-circuits the coaxial line 28-29, but this section of guide beyond the projecting line 38 being 1A; wavelength long, it does not affect the flow of energy along 28-29 and thence along 35-38. 34a is a similar metal bushing which supports conductor 30a. 39 is an attenuator made of an insulating material having relatively large dielectric loss. The ends are stepped, asV shown, to prevent reflection of -awave impinging on it. Its 4purpose is to provide j decoupling of the transmitter and the receiving mixen in addition to that provided by the directional couplers and to reduce the local oscillator power reaching the control mixer to a suitable value.

Similar isolation' of the transmitter component from the receiver` component may be obtained while at the same time furnishing sufficient heterodyning signals from the local oscillator to both the control mixer and the signal mixer by employing the special characteristics of a multiple-Tee wave guide coupler, such as that shown in Figure 8. It is known, for example, that if radio energy is. introduced into the E- plane branch 42, a satisfactory coupling into the main guide 4I of the multiple-Tee will be obtained and only an extremely small amount of the energy thus introduced into the guide will be coupled into the I-I-plane branch 43. Conversely, an extremely small proportion of the energy introduced in the main guide 4I by way ofV H- plane branch 43 will be coupled. into the E-plane branch 42. This characteristic of the multiple- Tee may be employed to obtain the desired results by incorporating multiple-Tee connections between the transmitter and receiver components in the manner; illustrated in Figure 7 of the drawings. The system there illustrated comprises a main guide section 44 which. isv connected to the control mixer Il. The lit-plane branch 45 is connected to themagnetron transmitter I2, and consequently energy introduced into the branch 45 by magnetron I2 will be coupled'principally into the main guide 44, dividingequally between the control mixer II and the matched termination 44a. A Very small fraction of this energy will be coupled into the H-plane branch 46. A4 similar arrangementk is made with respect to the local oscillator I and the signal mixer I4. The local oscillator is connected to the main guide section 41 of thewave guide system and the signal mixer I4 to the E;- plane branch 48. Branch 49 extends to and merges with the H-plane branchr 45 ofthe main guideA 44. Preferably an adjustable. dissipative attenuator 40a is includedin the branches 49 and 46. This is provided for the same purpose as the attenuator 21 in Figure 4. The characteristics of the multiple-Tee are such vthat in a wave guide assembly thus arranged, the energy from the local oscillator I introduced into the guide 41 will flow to the control 'mixerland to the receiver mixer in approximately equal proportions. The energy introduced into the branch 45 by the magnetron oscillator I2 will passlinto the guide 44 and will divide equally between mixer II and termination 44avand a very small fraction of the energy will be coupled into the H- plane branch 45. The arrangement of branches 45 and 45 at their junction with 44- and ofv branches 48 and 49 at their junction with 4l will produce high attenuation of any energy propagated by the magnetron oscillator so that no appreciable amount reaches the receivermixer I4 from the transmitter componentof the system. Thus, high attenuation ofenergy passingv in the specified main line of the guide between the points vof coupling of thebranch guides into the main guide, is-accomplished. in much the same manner as in the guides of Figures 5 and 6. In either or both multiple-Tees, the E- and I-I-plane branches may be interohanged, the arrangement in Figure 7 beingshownY only by way of example. The amount of energy supplied by thelocal oscillator I0, mixers II and I4, and by the transmitter to mixer I I may be controlled by adjusting the coupling of guide 41 to the local oscillator I5, and the coupling of guidev 45 to the transmitter I2. Additional control can be had if desired by inserting dissipative attenuatorsv in any of guides 44, 45, 41, and 48, but the preferred position is in guide 48, as in this position the attenuator is eifective also in reducing crossA coupling between the transmitter I2 and the'receiver mixer I4.

Figure 9 illustrates the manner in which two multiple-Tees may be joined together to effect a similar result to that of the two Tees shown in Figure '7. The wave guide assembly illustrated in Figure 9 may be considered to be constituted of two multiple-Tees of the type illustrated in Figure 8 in which the E-plane branches of the multiple-Tees have been joined together and shortened to produce window coupling as at 54 between the main guide sections of the two multiple-Tees. In employing this arrangement, the H-plane branch 49 may be connected to the transmitter oscillator I2 and main guide section 5I connected to the local oscillator I0. The guide section 5I! is connected to the control mixer and the I-I-plane branch 52 to the signalmixer I4. Thus arranged, the energy introduced into the H-plane branch 49 by the magnetron oscillator I2 will be coupled into the main section 50 and fed to the control mixer with very little, if any, coupling into the H-plane branch 52 leading to the signal mixer I4. Control of energy supplied to the two mixers may be eiected by adjusting the coupling of guide 50 to the local oscillator and of guide 49 to the transmitter, as described in connection with Figure 7, and for additional control dissipative attenuators may be inserted in any of guides 49, 55, 5I, and 52, the last being the preferred position. The two Tees in Figure 7 may be similarly combined by shortening the two H-plane branches until the two main guides are in contact, and coupled by a window.

There is thus disclosed coupling arrangements for'an FM radar system in which the local oscillator is connected to the control mixer and the received signal mixer and the transmitter oscillator is connected to the control mixer with a minimum of cross-feed between the transmitter oscillator and the signal mixer, thus increasing the range of the system. In'the appended'claims the term-directional coupler refers generically to couplers illustrated in Figure 1 and the multiple- Tee couplers in that both arrangements provide for'the transfer of energy, with characteristic insertion losses, between the main guide and branches according to the directions of ow of energy.

What is claimed is:

1. An FM' radar system including a transmitter oscillator, a control mixer, a local oscillator, a signal mixer, and a wave guide assembly comprising: a main guide-and two branch guides, said local oscillator being connected to said main guide adjacent one end thereof, said control mixer beingl connected to said main guide adjacent the other end thereof, the said two branch guides being connected to said `main guide by separate directional couplers, one said branch guide being connected to the said transmitter oscillator, the othersaid branch guide vbeing connected to said signal mixer.

2.v An FM radar system including a transmittery guide adjacent one end thereof, said control mixer being connected to said main guide adjacent the other end thereof, the said two branch guides being connected to said main guide by separate directional couplers, one said branch guide being connected to the said transmitter oscillator, the other said branch being connected to said signal mixer, and means provided in said main guide between the said couplers for attenuating energy transferred in either direction through the said main guide.

3. An FM radar system including a transmitter oscillator, a control mixer, a local oscillator, a signal mixer, and a wave guide assembly comprising: a main guide and two branch guides, said local oscillator being connected to said main guide adjacent one end thereof, said control mixer being connected to said main guide adjacent the other end thereof, the said two branch guides being connected to said main guide by separate directional couplers, one said branch guide being connected adjacent the local oscillator and connected to the said signal mixer and the other branch guide being connected adjacent the said control mixer and connected to said transmitter oscillator.

4. An FM radar system including a transmitter oscillator, a control mixer, a local oscillator, a signal mixer, and a wave guide assembly comprising: a main guide and two branch guides, said local oscillator being connected to said main guide adjacent one end thereof, said control mixer being connected to said main guide adjacent the other end thereof, the said two branch guides being connected to said main guide by separate directional couplers, one branch being connected adjacent the local oscillator and connected to the said signal mixer, the other branch guide being connected adjacent the said control mixer and connected to said transmitter oscillator, and means provided in the main guide between the said couplers for attenuating energy transferred in either direction through the said rnain guide.

5. An FM radar system including a transmitter oscillator, a control mixer, a local oscillator, a signal mixer, and a wave guide assembly comprising: a main guide and two branch guides, said local oscillator being connected to said main guide ad- .jacent one end thereof, said control mixer being rconnected to said main guide adjacent the other end thereof, the said two branch guides being connected to said main guide by separate directional couplers, one said branch guide being connected adjacent the said control mixer and connected to said transmitter oscillator, the said one branch guide coupler being so oriented with relation to said main guide that the direction of propagation of the greater portion of the energy transferred by the said coupler will be propagated toward the said control mixer, the other said branch guide being connected adjacent the said local oscillator and connected to said signal mixer, the said other branch guide coupler being so oriented with relation to said main guide that practically no energy from said transmitter oscillator entering said main guide through the said one branch guide coupler will be transferred from said main guide to said other branch guide.

6. The apparatus defined in claim hereof, characterized by the said main guide including 'means between the said couplers for attenuating l"energy transferred in either direction through the said main guide..

7. The apparatus defined in claim 5 hereof, characterized by the said main guide including means between said control mixer and said local oscillator for attenuating energy transferred in either direction through the said main guide.

8. An FM radar system including a transmitter oscillator, a control mixer, a local oscillator, a receiver, a signal mixer, and a wave guide assembly comprising: a main guide with the said local oscillator connected thereto adjacent one end thereof and the said control mixer connected thereto adjacent the other end thereof, two directional couplers one of which is connected to said transmitter oscillator and to said main guide adjacent the control mixer end thereof and the other of which couplers is connected to the signal mixer and to the main guide adjacent the local oscillator end thereof, the said one coupler being oriented for high insertion loss with respect to the now of energy from said transmitter oscillator into said main guide in a direction toward the other said coupler and the said other coupler being oriented for high insertion loss with respect to the iiow of energy from said main guide through said other coupler` to the receiver mixer, whereby energy from said transmitter oscillator to reach said receiver signal mixer must pass through both of said directional couplers in directions of large insertion losses.

9. The apparatus defined in claim 8 hereof, characterized by the said main guide including nonrelecting attenuating wedges positioned therein between said couplers and between said control mixer and its adjacent coupler.

10. An FM radar system including a transmitter oscillator, a control mixer, a local oscillator, a signal mixer, and a wave guide assembly comprising: a pair of transmission line units, each unit consisting of an outer hollow wave guide and an inner hollow wave guide, the two said guides being concentric to each other and field coupled together, one of said guides of the first said unit being connected to said transmitter oscillator and the other said guide of the rst said unit being connected to said control mixer, the said eld coupling therebetween being positioned as between the two guides to provide intermediate insertion loss of power from said transmitter oscillator to said control mixer, one of said guides of the second said unit being connected to said local oscillator and the other of said guides of the second said unit being connected to said receiver signal mixer, the said field coupling between the guides of the second said unit being positioned as between the last mentioned guides to provide for intermediate insertion loss of power in a direction from said local oscillator to said receiver signal mixer, means connecting together the outer guides of each of said units whereby power from said local oscillator is transmitted to said control mixer, and means associated with said connecting means for attenuating energy transferred in either direction through the said connecting means.

ll. An FM radar system including a, transmitter oscillator, a control mixer, a local oscillator, a signal mixer, and a Wave guide assembly comprising: a multiple-Tee including a main wave guide open at one end and having a non-reecting termination at the other end and including two conjugate branch wave guides, said control mixer being connected to said open end, said transmitter oscillator being connected to one of said branch guides, a second multiple-Tee also including a main wave guide open at one end and having a non-reecting termination at the other end and including two conjugate branch wave guides, said local oscillator being connected to the open end of the main guide of the s-econd multiple-Tee, one of the conjugate branch guides of the second multiple-Tee being connected to said signal mixer, and the remaining branch guides of the two multiple-Tees being connected together.

12. The invention according to claim 1l wherein the length of said two coupled branch guides is reduced to zero.

13. The invention according to claim 11 wherein means is provided in said two coupled branch guides for attenuating energy transferred in either direction through said two coupled guides.

14. An FM radar system including a transmitter` oscillator, a control mixer, a local oscillator, a signal mixer and a wave guide assembly comprising: a main guide consisting of two parallel rectangular wave guides in contact along their wide faces, and coupled together by a window through said wide faces, a rst branch guide Tee-coupled to one of said parallel guides through a second window in the narrow face of said guide, a second branch guide Tee-coupled to the other of said parallel guides through a third window in the narrow face of said guide, diagonally opposite from said second window, said Teecouplers and said windows lying in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said parallel guides.

15. An FM radar system comprising a local oscillator connected to a control mixer through a main transmission path', two branch transmission paths going into said main transmission path, coupler means in said main path that is selective with respect to the direction of energy ow, one of said branch paths going into said main path by way of said coupler, a transmitter oscillator connected to feed into the branch path that is adjacent the control mixer end of the main guide, and a receiver signal mixer connected to receive signal from the branch path that is adjacent the local oscillator end of said main path, said coupler being oriented so that its path of maximum transmission loss is in the transmission circuit from one branch path to the other branch path.

16. An FM radar system comprising a local oscillator connected to a control mixer through a main transmission path, two branch transmission paths going into said main transmission path, coupler means in said main path that is selective with respect to the direction of energy flow, one of said branch paths going into said main path by way of said coupler, a transmitter oscillator connected to feed into the branch path that is adjacent the control mixer end of the main guide, a receiver signal mixer connected to receive signal from the branch path that is adjacent the local oscillator end of said main path, said coupler being oriented so that its path of maximum transmission loss is in the transmission circuit from one branch path to the other branch path, and means in said main path between said branch paths for attenuating energy transferred in either direction through said main path.

1'7. An FM radar system comprising a main wave guide, a local oscillator connected at one end of said guide, a control mixer connected to the other end of said guide. two branch guides going into said main guide,`a directional coupler in said main guide, one of said branch guides going into said main guide by way of said directional coupler, a transmitter oscillator connected to feed into thebranch guide that is adjacent the control mixer end of the main guide, and a receiver signal mixer connected to receive signal from the branch guidethat is adjacent the local oscillator end of said main guide, said directional coupler being oriented so that its path of maximum transmission loss is in the transmission circuit from one branch guide to the other branch guide.

18. In an FM radar system including a transmitter oscillator, .a control mixer, a local oscillator, a signal mixer, and a main wave guide, means for connecting the local oscillator to said control mixer and to said signal mixer and for connecting said transmitter oscillator to said control mixer for minimum cross-feed between said transmitter oscillator and said'signal mixer, said means comprising means connecting said local oscillator and said control mixer to the respective ends of said main wave guide, means for supplying signal from said transmitter oscillator to said control mixer, a directional coupler having a branch wave guide, means connecting said coupler to said main wave guide between said local oscillator and said control mixer the branch guide of which coupler is connected to said signal mixer, the said coupler being oriented with respect to the direction of flow of energy in said main wave guide from said transmitter oscillator so that the insertion loss of said energy into said branch is large. f

19. An FM radar system including a transmitter oscillator, a control mixer, a local oscillator, a signal mixer and a wave guide assembly comprising: a main guide consisting of two parallel rectangular wave guides in contact along their narrow faces, and coupled together by a window through said wide faces, a first branch guide Teecoupled to one of said parallel guides through a second window in the wide-face of said guide, a secondbranch guide Tee-coupled to the other of said parallel guides through a third window in the wide face of said guide, diagonally opposite from said second window, said Tee-couplers and said windows lying in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said parallel guides.

RENE A. BRADEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file' of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Bradley' Jan. 10, 

